Masterman Ready; Or, The Wreck of the Pacific

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER TEN.

  When Ready returned on board, he first went down into the cabin toacquaint Mrs Seagrave and William with what they had done. MrsSeagrave naturally felt anxious about her husband being on shore alone,and Ready informed her that they had agreed that if anything shouldoccur Mr Seagrave would fire the musket. He then went down into thesail-room to get some canvas, a new topgallant sail which was there, anda palm and needles with twine. Scarcely had he got them out, and at thefoot of the ladder, when the report of the musket was heard, and MrsSeagrave rushed out of the cabin in the greatest alarm; Ready seizedanother musket, jumped into the boat, and pulled on shore as fast as hecould. On his arrival, quite out of breath, for as he pulled on shorehe had his back towards it, and could see nothing, he found Mr Seagraveand Juno busy with the tent, and Tommy sitting on the ground crying verylustily. It appeared that, while Mr Seagrave and Juno were employed,Tommy had crept away to where the musket was placed up on end against acocoa-nut tree, and, after pulling it about some little while, hadtouched the trigger. The musket went off; and, as the muzzle waspointed upwards, the charge had brought down two large cocoa-nuts. MrSeagrave, who was aware what an alarm this would produce on board thevessel, had been scolding him soundly, and now Master Tommy was crying,to prove how very penitent he was.

  "I had better return on board immediately, sir, and tell Mrs Seagrave,"said Ready.

  "Do, pray," replied Mr Seagrave.

  Ready then returned to the ship, and explained matters, and thenrecommenced his labour.

  Having put into the boat the sailmaker's bag, with palm and needles, twomattresses, and blankets from the captain's state room, the saucepanwith the beef and pork, and a spar which he towed astern, Ready foundthat he had as much as he could carry; but, as there was nobody buthimself in it, he came on shore very well. Having, with the assistanceof Mr Seagrave and Juno, got all the things up to the knoll, Readylashed the spar up for the second tent, and then leaving them to fix itup like the other, he returned again on board. He made two other tripsto the ship, bringing with him more bedding, a bag of ship's biscuits,another of potatoes, plates, knives and forks, spoons, frying-pans andother cooking utensils, and a variety of other articles. He then showedJuno how to fill up the ends of the first tent with the canvas and sailshe had brought on shore, so as to inclose it all round; Juno took theneedle and twine, and worked very well. Ready, satisfied that she wouldbe able to get on without them, now said: "Mr Seagrave, we have but twohours more daylight, and it is right that Mrs Seagrave should come onshore now; so, if you please, we'll go off and fetch her and thechildren. I think we shall be able to do very well for the first night;and if it pleases God to give us fine weather, we may do a great dealmore to-morrow."

  As soon as they arrived on board, Mr Seagrave went down to his wife topropose her going on shore. She was much agitated, and very weak fromher illness, but she behaved courageously notwithstanding, and,supported by her husband, gained the deck, William following with thebaby, and his little sister Caroline carried by Ready. With somedifficulty they were all at last placed in the boat and shoved off; butMrs Seagrave was so ill, that her husband was obliged to support her inhis arms, and William took an oar. They landed very safely, and carriedMrs Seagrave up to the tent, and laid her down on one of themattresses. She asked for a little water.

  "And I have forgotten to bring any with me: well, I am a stupid old man;but I'll go on board directly," said Ready: "to think that I should beso busy in bringing other things on shore and forget the greatestnecessary in life! The fact is, I intended to look for it on the islandas soon as I could, as it would save a great deal of trouble."

  Ready returned on board as fast as he could, and brought on shore twokegs of fresh water, which he and William rolled up to the tent.

  Juno had completely finished her task, and Mrs Seagrave having drunksome water, declared that she was much better.

  "I shall not return on board any more to-night," said Ready, "I feeltired--very tired indeed."

  "You must be," replied Mr Seagrave; "do not think of doing any more."

  "And I haven't touched food this day, or even quenched my thirst,"replied Ready, sitting down.

  "You are ill, are you not, Ready?" said William.

  "A little faint, William; I'm not so young as I was. Could you give mea little water?"

  "Stop, William, I will," said Mr Seagrave, taking up a tin can whichhad been filled for his wife: "here, Ready, drink this."

  "I shall be better soon, sir; I'll just lie down a little, and then I'llhave a biscuit and a little meat."

  Poor old Ready was indeed quite tired out; but he ate something, andfelt much revived. Juno was very busy; she had given the children someof the salt meat and biscuit to eat. The baby, and Tommy, and Carolinehad been put to bed, and the second tent was nearly ready.

  "It will do very well for to-night, Juno," said Mr Seagrave; "we havedone work enough for this day."

  "Yes, sir," replied Ready, "and I think we ought to thank God for hismercies to us before we go to sleep."

  "You remind me of my duty, Ready; let us thank him for his goodness, andpray to him for his protection before we go to sleep."

  Mr Seagrave then offered up a prayer of thankfulness; and they allretired to rest.